The general objectives of the Cluster Support Program are as follows:
- Increasing the competitiveness, innovation, and productivity of Turkish industry,
- Gaining a larger share of global exports,
- Primarily producing high-tech products,
- Transforming into an industrial structure that has a skilled workforce and is also environmentally and socially responsible. The program's objective can be summarized as strengthening the necessary collaborative environment to initiate and effectively advance cluster partnerships.
Progress toward this goal will be monitored using the following indicators:
- Number of legally recognized institutions and organizations established for the coordination, management, and administration of cluster collaborations and accredited by the Ministry.
- Number of universities actively involved in cluster collaborations,
- Number of businesses actively involved in cluster collaborations,
- Number of firms that have increased the level and quality of cooperation with other businesses as a result of cluster collaborations,
- Number of shared-use structures created as a result of cluster collaborations and the number of businesses benefiting from these structures,
- Number of new, refurbished, and/or improved products created and launched on the market as a result of cluster collaborations. Cluster partnerships with a certain level and potential of sustainability and competitiveness will be supported in activities detailed in the Cluster Support Program Implementation Procedures and Principles, under the headings of a) improving cluster coordination, awareness and/or effectiveness, b) improving factor conditions and/or markets, c) productivity and d) innovation.
Category 1: Activity Group for Improving Cluster Coordination, Awareness and/or Effectiveness:
Establishing a legal structure to represent the cluster
Strengthening the capacity of the legal structure representing the cluster
Coordination of cluster collaboration
Strengthening awareness of cluster actors regarding clustering
Organizations to enable cluster actors to get to know each other
Sectoral organizations for the participation of cluster actors
Development and promotion of a common cluster brand
Lobbying and promotional activities
Investment promotion
Market (including local market) development activities
Access to international business networks and cooperation with other clusters, etc. * Conducting basic analyses related to the cluster (competitiveness, etc.)
Conducting sophisticated analyses related to the cluster
Determining the cluster strategy and preparing a roadmap
Preparing applications for various financial support programs Category 2: Factor Conditions and Markets Development Activity Group
Developing the basic (low-skilled or semi-skilled) labor market
Developing the skilled labor market (technicians, basic engineering)
Developing the highly skilled labor market
Efforts to strengthen the quality of raw materials and/or intermediate goods
Efforts to reduce the cost of raw materials and/or intermediate goods
Investments to strengthen shared physical infrastructure
University-Industry Cooperation Programs
Establishment of units to provide continuous market information services
Access to strategic information resources Category 3: Productivity Enhancing Practices Activity Group
Implementation of supplier development programs
Establishment of shared workshops (JWW)
Establishment of shared warehouses
Organizations for the joint procurement of raw materials or intermediate goods
University-Industry Cooperation Programs
Energy efficiency programs
Renewable energy programs
Establishment of a test/analysis laboratory
Dissemination of best practices among cluster actors
Industrial co-existence
Shared transportation, shift planning
Product certification and accreditation Category 4: Innovation Activity Group
Establishment of an applied R&D laboratory
Innovation (product, process, market) support program
Establishment of sample lines for shared use
Establishment of platforms for shared use (testing, simulation, etc.)
Establishment of technology monitoring, promotion and transfer units
University-Industry Cooperation Programs
Preparation of applications for various financial support programs
Programs to increase design and creativity capacity Support Period
The support period for a cluster initiative is 5 (five) years. However, this period may be extended by up to two years, provided that the support amount remains unchanged, if the Ministry deems the administrative and/or technical reasons for the cluster initiative appropriate, or from the date the force majeure circumstances cease to exist. The support period cannot exceed seven years.
